2015 Journal

Fourth Sunday of Advent The circle of light is complete. The fourth Advent Candle now burns brightly in a radiant ring of light. In five days, Jesus the light of

Third Sunday of Advent “His reason is love.” says Julian of Norwich in speaking about why God created the universe. His reason is love, not punishment, not wrath, not to

Second Sunday of Advent “Lead kindly light,” says John Henry Newman, “amid the encircling gloom.” The encircling gloom which at first seemed so impenetrable yields now to one more small

First Sunday of Advent Here we are again, standing at the threshold of another Advent. In this season of the year when darkness steps to the fore and pushes aside

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends! We hope that your day was blessed and full of family, friends and celebration. And probably a football game, too?? Ours was a happy time of

Happy Autumn, dear Friends! We enjoyed our annual community retreat the week of October 18-24.  This year our retreat director was Fr. James Palmigiano of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer,

Autumn has turned out to be a time of many moods! It splashed the hillsides with yellow and dazzled us with the bluest of blue skies and dancing white clouds

The grass on the Santa Rita foothills is still green at the roots, but otherwise it has that gone-to-seed autumn look.  The “Gold Fields” are blooming all over, adding splashes of golden

All good things must come to an end, so we bid adieu to Fr. John and Sr. Eleanor with a supper party.  It’s been a joy to share in Sr. Eleanor’s

August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the patronal feast of our Cistercian order, so we always celebrate it with special joy. But this